Management of the City Grocery Restaurant Group has begun construction on a new concept, slated to open in early April.  Tentatively named "Snackbar," the new venture will "attempt to fill a vacuum left by the closing of L and M Salumeria last June," says John Currence, City Grocery owner.  "Their closing is, unquestionably, the greatest loss Oxford's culinary scene has ever suffered."  The Chalk Horse, according to Currence, will not necessarily be as Italian in its offereings, but will try to offer a similar idea.  "With the Big Bad Smokehouse, we have the opportunity to create some more smoked and cured items, but I see the menu itself slanting a little more towards the French brasserie tradition with some English pub foods and a little Italian as well.

Vishwesh Bhatt, who has been with Currence's restaurants on and off for over a decade will be at the helm in the kitchen.  "Vish has become part and parcel City Grocery food philosophy," says Currence.  "He has been overseeing all aspects of the running of the City Grocery kitchen really since Katrina hit and I started doing recovery work.  His handling of everything at home gave me the ability to go and do what I need to do there and then when I came back to go to work on Big Bad Breakfast.  I can't wait to see what he does with Snackbar."  Drew Stevens, currently one of two general managers at Bouré, will run the front of the house.  "He is full of ideas and energy, so it will be fun to see what Drew assembles for our front of the house program."

According to Currence, Snackbar will open for dinner hour service Monday through Saturday.  The venue is designed to evoke the feeling of an English/Irish pub with lots of communal seating and a setup that encourages interaction among guests.  An extensive glass wine program is in the works with an emphasis on high end spirits and imported beers.